Levels of Emotional Regulation among College Students: The Role of Gender

College years are marked by academic demands, social changes, and challenges to autonomy, which, while offering growth opportunities, can also risk the well-being of students. The ability to regulate emotions becomes crucial at such times, supporting the development of students striving to make a mark in life. The present study investigated levels of emotional regulation among 179 college students (male = 86, female = 93) aged 18–25 years, and examined gender differences in emotional regulation. Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale by Gratz and Roemer (2004) was used as a measure, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent sample t-test. Results showed that most participants reported moderate to high levels of emotional regulation, with no significant gender differences. Nonetheless, male participants expressed greater difficulties in emotional awareness and strategies for managing emotions, suggesting that they struggle not with the experience of emotion itself, but with its perceptive recognition and the knowledge of how to control it. Based on the findings, the study concludes that while emotional capacity may be adequate among college students, there is still a need for implementing proactive, gender-informed emotional literacy programs accessible to all on campus to foster the well-being of students in higher education.